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While his neighbors evacuated, Andy Schrader says the flames from the Silver Fire in the Banning area trapped him, forcing him to shelter in place. The fast-moving fire grew to consume more than 11,000 acres in just more than 24 hours. Jacob Rascon reports from Palm Springs for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2013. (Published Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013)

A fast-moving wildfire that has charred nearly 16 square miles of dry, mountainous terrain in Southern California had left homes burned, evacuees worried and one resident severely injured.

The Silver Fire, which began at about 2 p.m. Wednesday south of Banning in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains, has burned an estimated 15 homes and structures. Four of the 1,000 fire personnel working the blaze have been injured.

Silver Fire Evacuee Visits Burn Area

A Poppet Flats man returned to an area burned in the Silver Fire on Thursday to check if his home and those of his neighbors were still standing. He spoke with Jacob Rascon for the NBC4 News at Noon on Aug. 8, 2013. (Published Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013)

Multiple remote mountain communities were evacuated, as were parts of Cabazon, a city along the 10 Freeway, according to the Riverside County Fire Department's online incident report.

An estimated 1,800 residents who had been evacuated – from more than 400 homes – were offered shelter at Hemet and Beaumont high schools.

"We’re very concerned, but all you can do is wait and see, and pray for everybody," said local Carole Roquemore. "We went through this same thing – we have family up in Idyllwild. … It’s been a big year for fires."

Roquemore was referring to last month’s Mountain Fire, which burned more than 27,500 acres about 20 miles southeast of the Silver Fire. The newer fire, in turn, is in the same area as the 2006 Esperanza Fire, which left five U.S. Forest Service firefighters dead.

On Wednesday, near the Silver Fire’s origin (map), one man was found inside a travel trailer severely burned from “head to toe,” according to Cal Fire Riverside Chief John R. Hawkins.

He was found by fire Capt. Specialist Greg Ewing, who brought him for treatment, Hawkins said.
The unidentified man was taken to a hospital burn center, Hawkins said.

Meanwhile, residents who had been told to flee the flames coped with the uncertain fate of their homes and possessions.

He said he had seen his home remained standing on the NBC4 News Wednesday, but came up to the evacuated area on Thursday to check in person. His home was still standing.

“Several of my neighbors wanted to know if their houses were here or not, and I wanted to know myself,” said McRae, who has lived in the foothill community for 40 years. “We didn’t have time, really to evacuate.”

He said residents left with just the clothes they wore – and one neighbor had let their farm animals go in hope they would escape the flames.

“All their alpacas were set free, and they probably 30 alpacas,” McRae said.

About 22 or 23 of the animals were still in a corral on Thursday, he said, but the other animals were missing.

He said he felt he had gotten off lucky compared to some who lost their homes.

"This little valley and some houses here that had good protection are the only the thing that's green," McRae said. "Everything else is black."